Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has happy memories of The Hawthorns, but six months after his last visit there he's trying to bring about a change of luck.

And he thinks he's hit upon a way to achieve it.

The Blues boss appeared before the assorted press pack for Friday's Stamford Bridge news conference looking a little different than he did before the international break - in which Italy's failure to reach the World Cup has seen the former Juventus boss linked with the Azzurri job .

Sporting an unshaven look, Conte was asked if there was a reason behind his new beard, and he claimed that it wasn't entirely his choice.

How Conte looked in Chelsea's clash with Manchester United before the international break (Image: REUTERS)

And how he looked on Friday afternoon (Image: Chelsea FC)

The Chelsea boss enjoyed his last visit to The Hawthorns (Image: Getty Images)

“This is the first time, we will see if this brings luck," he said.

“This is the first time I try to change my luck, because my wife asked to try it.”